Temnospondyls are a strange and diverse group of the same early amphibians living in a variety of habitats, provided they were in the water or near the water.

Most were semi-aquatic temnospondyls, although some were almost completely terrestrial, only returning to water to breed.

These temnospondyls were among the first vertebrates fully adapted to life on earth. Although amphibians are considered temnospondyls, many with features such as scales, claws, and as the armor of bony plates, which distinguish modern amphibians.